Stock Market & Financial Investment News

On the Fly: Periodicals Wrap-UpWALL STREET JOURNAL: Thereís a renewed willingness by some banks to lend cheaply and on flexible terms. But a new concern is emerging: Is the pendulum swinging too far the other way? So-called commercial and industrial loans were up 4.4% in Q4 and 16% for all of 2012, according to SNL Financial data, the Wall Street Journal reports...Some oil companies (CVX, RDS.A) are still making multibillion-dollar bets on finding crude in the deepest waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The target is called the Lower Tertiary, considered by many to be the Gulfs last frontier, the Wall Street Journal reports...REUTERS: Boeing (BA) has found a way to fix battery problems with its grounded 787 Dreamliner jets which involves increasing the space between cells, sources say, Reuters reports...Antitrust experts said there were no guarantees that a deal to merge Office Depot (ODP) with OfficeMax (OMX) would win government approval, Reuters reports...BLOOMBERG: The biggest U.S. banks (JPM, C, BAC, STI) are lending the smallest portion of their deposits in five years as cash floods in from savers and a slow economy damps demand from borrowers. The average loan-to-deposit ratio for the top eight commercial banks fell to 84% in Q4 from 87% a year earlier and 101% in 2007, according to Credit Suisse Group data, Bloomberg reports...CME Groupís (CME) decision to allow users of its interest-rate swap future contracts to avoid tougher oversight is drawing scrutiny from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Bloomberg reports.

Citi announces $100b, 10-year commitment to finance sustainable growthCiti announced a landmark commitment to lend, invest and facilitate a total of $100B within the next 10 years to finance activities that reduce the impacts of climate change and create environmental solutions that benefit people and communities. Citiís previous $50B goal was announced in 2007 and was met three years early in 2013. With this $100B initiative, Citi will build on its leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency financing to engage with clients to identify opportunities to finance greenhouse gas reductions and resource efficiency in other sectors, such as sustainable transportation.

Alaska Air purchasing six Boeing Extended Range aircraftAlaska Airlines (ALK) is purchasing six more Boeing (BA) 737-900 Extended Range aircraft, valued at $594M. Boeing's current list price. The new planes, four scheduled for delivery in 2016 and two in 2017, bring Alaska's total of locally manufactured jets on order to 79.

Boeing awarded $29.5M contract for laser weapons on Navy shipsBoeing said it has been awarded a $29.5M contract to design and develop a beam control system that could provide exceptional accuracy for laser weapons on U.S. Navy warships.